News and Investigations

UPDATE: On August, 18, 2020, the driver of the motorcycle passed away from injuries sustained in this crash. 

Nancy Norwood's charges were upgraded to DUI Manslaughter (F-2) and Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Death (F-1). Norwood was arrested on August 18, 2020 and is currently in the Pinellas County Jail.

"My heart aches for the family of the victim in this horrific crash. This crash was completely avoidable. Ms. Norwood chose to drink and drive, which was a blatant disregard for human life. We will do everything in our power to hold her criminally accountable. Let us hope she will not get behind the wheel of a car for a very, very long time." - Grady Judd, Sheriff 

The 39 year-old passenger is still recovering from her injuries sustained in the crash. 

AS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED:
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 41-year-old Tampa woman on Sunday, August 9, 2020, after she left the scene of a crash wherein two people were critically injured. Nancy Norwood was located quickly by deputies, and it was determined that she had also been operating a motor vehicle while impaired.

The crash occurred at about 12:58 am Sunday morning, on Rockridge Road, about 3 ½ miles east of U.S. 98, north of Lakeland.

Injured in the crash were a 57-year-old man from Orlando, and a 39-year-old woman from Lakeland. The pair, who were on a black 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle, were taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for their injuries.

“This is yet another example of the predictable danger of drinking and driving. Innocent people are hurt and killed every day in Florida because of monumentally stupid decisions being made by those who become intoxicated, then drive.” - Grady Judd, Sheriff.

According to the preliminary investigation, Norwood was driving a gray 2020 Toyota 4Runner east on Rockridge Road and attempted to make a u-turn in the middle of the roadway. The motorcycle, which was also travelling east, crashed into the rear-driver’s side of the Toyota. Norwood fled from the scene.

Responding deputies located pieces of Norwood’s Toyota at the crash site, and issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for the damaged vehicle.

Within minutes, the vehicle was located at the Circle K store at 10704 U.S. 98 North in Lakeland.

When deputies approached the parked Toyota in the parking lot, they found Norwood sleeping in the driver’s seat with the keys still in the ignition. They noted that once she was awakened, Norwood’s eyes were bloodshot, her speech was slurred, and she had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath.

Norwood’s Toyota had damage consistent with the pieces found at the crash scene, and blood and tissue were found on the damaged area of her vehicle.

After a Standardized Field Sobriety test was conducted on Norwood, she was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while impaired. After a stop at a hospital to verify she was uninjured from the crash, she was taken to the Polk County Jail.

At the jail, a breath test was performed with Norwood in which she produced samples of .231 and .235 (the legal limit is .08).

Nancy Norwood was charged with: two counts of Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury (F2), two counts of DUI with Serious Bodily Injury (F3), and one count of DUI with BAC of .15 or Higher (M1).

Norwood bonded out of jail Sunday evening. The victims remain hospitalized in critical condition.

The crash remains under investigation.